Now and Glenn; obscure T&T striker in spotlight for Haiti Copa play off clash

Twenty eight year old striker Jonathan Glenn will finally have his time to shine tomorrow evening as the “Soca Warriors” face Haiti from 6.30 pm (TT time) in a 2016 Copa America Centenario play off at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago and Breioablik striker Jonathan Glenn.

Trinidad and Tobago will play in an all-white kit.

Victory would guarantee Trinidad and Tobago of three international matches against the top teams from CONCACAF and South America this June. A loss means coach Stephen Hart would have to twiddle his thumbs and wait to see whether the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) can raise the money to get a game against whatever team is inactive and interested at the time.

Jamaica’s appearance at the 2015 Copa America was followed by a second place finish in last year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup. The Warriors hope that matching wits with South America’s top football nations can give their Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign a similar impetus.

Haiti’s current head coach, Patrice Neveu, has been in charge for barely a week, so it is difficult to anticipate how the French-speaking Caribbean nation will line up. But scouting reports suggest that Haiti can be rattled at the back and are susceptible in the air.

Bread and butter then for Warriors captain Kenwyne Jones. Only Jones is unavailable and on the other side of the globe as he prepares for life with his new United Arab Emirates employers, Al Jazira.

Hart has already publicly shared his concern about the air miles needed to bring his captain home for international games. And, in that context, Glenn has extra motivation tomorrow.

Jones has 15 goals in 27 outings for Hart and he is unlikely to be cast aside anytime soon. But, if Glenn is to confirm his role as a viable alternative to the former Premier League forward, then there could not be a better audition than Haiti.

“This game is extremely important to all of us,” Glenn told Wired868. “This is an opportunity to play in a major tournament alongside some of the world’s best teams.

“It also gives us quality games which would help us in preparation for World Cup qualifiers.”

The average Trinidad and Tobago football fan might have been unaware of his presence on the team before now. Or who he is at all.

A former St Anthony’s College student, Glenn was a NCAA Division II player with Saint Leo University in Florida while his club career has been similarly obscure.

He is, essentially, the “other Glen.”

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago striker Cornell Glen collects his thoughts after striking the bar against Sweden during the Germany 2006 World Cup.(Courtesy www.bbc.co.uk)

Former World Cup 2006 attacker Cornell Glen is fifth on Trinidad and Tobago’s all-time scoring list with 23 international goals. But Glenn has rarely ever enjoyed the spotlight as he bounced around in the lower levels of the United States’ professional game before moving to Iceland in 2014.

A few months later, Glenn won his first senior international call up through verbal recommendations and YouTube clips.

Hart described Glenn as the best finisher in his squad when he selected him for the November 2014 Caribbean Cup finals. Yet the striker played a combined 23 minutes from a possible 390 minutes at the Jamaica competition and then was an unused substitute for the entire 2015 Gold Cup.

Glenn made good use of the playing time he did get, though.

In Jones’ absence, Glenn got his first start last September and he scored and assisted in a friendly 3-3 draw with Mexico.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago forward Jonathan Glenn (foreground) heads past Mexico goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera during a friendly 3-3 draw in September at Utah.Glenn is expected to lead the Warriors offence against Haiti.(Courtesy TTFA Media)

A month later, he started alongside Jones and created the opening goal for his captain in a memorable 2-1 friendly win over Panama at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez.

Glenn will hope for another productive showing in Panama City tomorrow night. To date, he has one goal and two assists from two starts and three substitute appearances for Trinidad and Tobago.

Hart expects a tough match against Haiti and spent part of his team’s training camp preparing for penalties.

“I think we have to do what we do well, be consistent with it, minimise our errors in crucial parts of the field where we could be punished,” Hart told the TTFA Media, “and understand that this game will be a tight one and can possibly be won in the second half so we have to manage it properly.

“It’s the nature of the game and we’ve practiced penalty kicks. We know who are the responsible shooters but in reality when it comes to that situation it’s who feels they can kick.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team coach Stephen Hart (left) enjoys a light moment with assistant coach Derek King before kick off against Nicaragua in Port of Spain.(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

About Lasana Liburd

Lasana Liburd is the CEO and Editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.

18 comments

“………………..the best finisher in his squad when he selected him for the November 2014 Caribbean Cup finals. Yet the striker played a combined 23 minutes from a possible 390 minutes at the Jamaica competition and then was an unused substitute for the entire 2015 Gold Cup.” Are you sure this was the coach’s assessment?

Lasana Liburd ah need a link to watch the game eh! Big shoes! Kenwin have big feet ah Wah! Joking eh! The captain honestly have given us great leadership! We have over achieved recently under his leadership. That will be missed!

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